We are dancin' around the office today--and if we had beakers and microscopes, they'd be joining the party, too. Why are we celebrating? 'Cause Intel just announced the 40 finalists for their annual Intel Science Talent Search, one of the most prestigious science-based contests for youth in the U.S.A. And guess what? Girls are going toe-to-toe with the guys--the gender split is 50/50.

Next month, the finalists will fly to Washington, D.C., to present their projects and compete for $630,000 in prize money. Take a look at the full list of finalists here and stay tuned for my details on these so-smart sweeties. Good luck, ladies!